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Revolutionizing Road Infrastructure: A Nexus of Bioengineering, Waste Valorization, and Intelligent Systems

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 2742

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Nader Nciri

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. School of Energy, Materials, & Chemical Engineering, Korea University of Technology & Education, Cheonan 31253, Republic of Korea
2. School of Industrial Design & Architectural Engineering, Korea University of Technology & Education, Chungnam 31253, Republic of Korea
3. Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
4. Department of Agri-Food Industries, National Institute of Agronomy of Tunisia (INAT), University of Carthage, Tunis 1082, Tunisia
Interests: sustainable infrastructure; waste management in construction; bio-based materials for road construction; smart technologies in civil engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled "Revolutionizing Road Infrastructure: A Nexus of Bioengineering, Waste Valorization, and Intelligent Systems" is conceived at the confluence of advanced sustainable materials science, innovative waste management strategies, and the transformative potential of smart technologies in civil engineering. It aims to herald a paradigm shift in how road infrastructure is conceptualized, designed, and maintained, steering the global discourse towards more resilient, environmentally benign, and technologically integrated pathways.

The thematic core of this issue lies in transcending traditional approaches to road construction by harnessing the untapped potential of bio-based materials, converting multidisciplinary waste streams into valuable construction resources, and leveraging artificial intelligence, IoT, and machine learning to optimize construction processes, maintenance, and lifecycle management of roadways. It aspires to redefine the ecosystem of road infrastructure development through a lens of sustainability, pushing the boundaries of current research into uncharted territories where the principles of green chemistry, the circular economy, and digital innovation intersect.

By curating a collection of empirical research, case studies, and review articles, this Special Issue will illuminate the complexities and opportunities at the nexus of environmental stewardship and technological advancement in road construction. It aims to enrich the existing corpus of sustainability literature by providing actionable insights and forward-looking perspectives that encapsulate the multifaceted challenges and solutions inherent in crafting the next generation of road infrastructures.

Prof. Dr. Nader Nciri
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable road infrastructure
  • innovative construction materials
  • bio-asphalt and bio-additives
  • waste material recycling in construction
  • smart technologies in road construction
  • artificial intelligence and the internet of things in infrastructure
  • energy efficiency and conservation
  • greenhouse gas reduction
  • zero waste construction
  • analytical and simulation techniques in roadway design

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 6171 KiB  
Article
Optimal Design of Truss Structures for Sustainable Carbon Emission Reduction in Korean Construction
by Donwoo Lee, Jeonghyun Kim and Seungjae Lee
Sustainability 2024, 16(14), 5830; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16145830 - 9 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 910
Abstract
Due to the recent abnormalities in global temperature and increasing carbon emissions, the world is working to reduce carbon emissions. In particular, the construction sector accounts for about 37% of all carbon emissions, so it is one of the areas where sustainable reduction [...] Read more.
Due to the recent abnormalities in global temperature and increasing carbon emissions, the world is working to reduce carbon emissions. In particular, the construction sector accounts for about 37% of all carbon emissions, so it is one of the areas where sustainable reduction efforts must be made. Therefore, in this paper, an optimal design process was performed by evaluating carbon emissions as the objective function, a choice which differed from the objective function of the existing research used in the optimal design of truss structures. The metaheuristics algorithm used for the process was the advanced crow search algorithm. The levels of carbon emissions generated when the material of a truss structure consisted of a customary material (steel) were compared to scenarios in which timber was used, and a construction scenario centered on the Republic of Korea was established for comparison. The structures used as examples were 10-, 17-, 22-, and 120-bar truss structures. As a result, it was confirmed that truss structures using timber had fewer carbon emissions than structures using steel. In addition, it was confirmed that, even in the same timber structures, domestic timber had fewer carbon emissions than imported timber. These results confirmed that in order to achieve carbon neutrality in the construction field, carbon emissions must be considered in advance, in the design stage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Revolutionizing Road Infrastructure: A Nexus of Bioengineering, Waste Valorization, and Intelligent Systems)
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29 pages, 4818 KiB  
Article
From Bin to Binder: Unleashing Waste Butter’s Potential as a Pioneering Bio-Modifier for Sustainable Asphalt Engineering
by Nader Nciri and Namho Kim
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4774; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114774 - 4 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1092
Abstract
Exploring the interface of environmental sustainability and civil infrastructure development, this study introduces waste butter (WB), a byproduct of animal fat processing, as a novel bio-modifier in asphalt production. This approach not only recycles animal waste but also charts a course for sustainable [...] Read more.
Exploring the interface of environmental sustainability and civil infrastructure development, this study introduces waste butter (WB), a byproduct of animal fat processing, as a novel bio-modifier in asphalt production. This approach not only recycles animal waste but also charts a course for sustainable infrastructural development, contributing to a reduced environmental impact and promoting circular economy practices. The experiments incorporated varying WB concentrations (e.g., 3%, 6%, and 9% by weight of binder) into standard AP-5 asphalt, employing advanced analytical tools for comprehensive characterization. These included thin-layer chromatography–flame ionization detection (TLC-FID), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The critical properties of the asphalt blends, such as penetration, softening point, viscosity, ductility, rutting factor (Dynamic Shear Rheometer), and thermal susceptibility (Penetration Index, Penetration–Viscosity Number), were assessed. FT-IR analysis indicated negligible chemical alteration with WB addition, suggesting predominantly physical interactions. TLC-FID showed a decrease in aromatic and asphaltene components but an increase in resin content, highlighting the influence of WB’s fatty acids on the asphalt’s chemical balance. The colloidal instability index (IC) confirmed enhanced stability due to WB’s high resin concentration. Meanwhile, SEM analysis revealed microstructural improvements with WB, enhancing binder compatibility. TGA demonstrated that even a minimal 3 wt. % WB addition significantly improved thermal stability, while the DSC results pointed to improved low-temperature performance, reducing brittleness in cold conditions. Rheologically, WB incorporation resulted in increased penetration and ductility, balanced by decreased viscosity and softening point, thereby demonstrating its multi-faceted utility. Thermal susceptibility tests emphasized WB’s effectiveness in cold environments, with further evaluation needed at higher temperatures. The DSR findings necessitate careful WB calibration to meet Superpave rutting standards. In conclusion, this research positions waste butter as a superior, environmentally aligned bio-additive for asphalt blends, contributing significantly to eco-friendly civil engineering practices by repurposing animal-derived waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Revolutionizing Road Infrastructure: A Nexus of Bioengineering, Waste Valorization, and Intelligent Systems)
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